Dirty Den and Derren Brown will be amongst the stars at Blackpool's Grand Theatre as it celebrates a special anniversary this spring.

It will be 25 years this year since the Grand re-opened in 1981 and some famous names from stage and screen will be joining the celebrations.

Eastenders star, Leslie Grantham, appears in Jeffrey Archer's Beyond Reasonable Doubt from May 29 to June 3 while TV mind controller Brown makes his Grand debut on March 26.

The crucial role played by local operatic companies in keeping the theatre alive is also being recognised, with Titanic the Musical (Blackpool Operatic Players May 3-6), Me and My Girl (Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company June 6-10) and the British premier of Jane Eyre The Musical (Premier Theatre Company June 27-July 1) all on the schedule.

Theatre manager, Paul Iles, said: "It has been our privilege to host local operatic companies: they were supporters of the campaign to reopen the Grand in 1981 and this year is a bumper one for local talent and vitality."

Also marking the 25th anniversary is a series of four lectures including the first Geoffrey Thompson Memorial Lecture, to be delivered by Sir Peter Hall, chairman of ReBlackpool, on the subject of Blackpool's regeneration.

Other highlights include the first international Shakespeare in Blackpool: from Sydney, Australia the Bell Shakespeare Company 's flamboyant, irreverent and magical production of The Comedy of Errors (March 14-18).

Northern Broadsides, who made their Grand Theatre debut in November with School for Scandal, return with their largest production ever. Shakespeare's Wars of the Roses is a hard-hitting epic history cycle of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III. Described as a test of stamina for actors and audiences, Mr Iles said of the show: "The rewards are too good to be missed, especially if patrons book to see all three plays for the marathon Saturday cycle on Saturday 20 May."

These attractions are only some of the 50 shows announced last week. Opera, variety, ballet, dance, blues, folk and rock concerts, are also in the line up which can be seen in the new Grand Theatre magazine, available at the theatre or by calling 01253 290190.